Ep 9. The Zande Spear

In Forged in Fire season 5 episode 9, titled The Zande Spear, four bladesmiths are tasked with creating a deadly African weapon - the Zande spear. The Zande people of Central Africa were known for their use of this powerful weapon, designed to penetrate even the toughest of hides.

The contestants begin by selecting their materials from a wide array of metal scrap. After they've chosen their materials, the bladesmiths begin the forging process, pounding the metal into shape with their hammers and anvils. This is a crucial step in any blade-making process, as the steel has to be heated to high temperatures in order to become flexible enough to forge into shape.

Once the blades have been forged into shape, the contestants move on to the grinding and sharpening process. This stage requires precision and skill, as it's important to strike the right balance between the blade's sharpness and its durability.

With their blades complete, the contestants move on to the final challenge - testing their weapons against the judges' in-house test dummy. This is where things get intense, as the judges evaluate each blade's effectiveness in terms of penetration power, cutting ability, and overall durability.

Finally, only two bladesmiths are left standing, and they're given one last challenge – to replicate a historical Zande spear. This requires an attentive eye for detail, as the Zande spear has many specific features that must be reproduced in order to accurately mimic the weapon's design.

As the clock ticks down, tensions rise in the forge. The bladesmiths must work quickly and efficiently to bring their projects to completion before time runs out.

In the end, the judges examine each spear closely, comparing the finished products to the original Zande designs. Only one bladesmith can be deemed the winner, but all contestants leave the forge with an increased understanding and respect for the ancient art of blade-making.